A February weekend in Miami meant two things: sunshine and the Miami International Boat Show. Mike attends every year for Teakdecking Systems, but this time I joined him — and we squeezed in some birding between the yachts, crowds, and South Beach energy.
Birding Around Miami Beach
Miami Beach and its surrounding areas are famous for their parrot and parakeet populations. While many believe these birds are escapes from Hurricane Andrew, research suggests most are from the exotic bird trade. They are beautiful to see, even if many aren’t “countable” on a formal bird list. According to eBird, there are 24 species of parrot and parakeet that are regularly seen in Miami-Dade County. We spotted three on this trip: Monk Parakeets and Mitred Parakeets off 42nd Street, and a Blue-and-yellow Macaw that flew right over my head on the South Beach boardwalk.
If you’re looking for parrot sightings, eBird can help you find recent reports, but two reliable locations are Matheson Park and the neighborhoods around Kendall Hospital. Another great hotspot is the neighborhood near Brewer Park, which is known for Mitred and Red-masked Parakeets and Chestnut-fronted Macaws. The best strategy is to simply listen and follow the squawks near sunset.
Morning Birding on South Beach
We made sure to get up early and walk on the beach before the show each morning. This gave us the chance to spot a few shorebirds, including Sanderlings, Royal Terns, and Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
One thing we’ve learned about Miami is that you never know what you’ll see—you might even find a voodoo doll under a Banyan tree!
It was a fun mix of boats, beaches, and birding — a very Miami kind of weekend. From parakeets along 42nd Street to shorebirds on the morning beach walks, this quick trip added eight year birds and gave us a sunny break from winter.
Trip Totals: 27 species • 8 year birds • 0 life birds
2015 Totals: 110 year birds • 4 life birds
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